Electric alarm.



R. C. BRUNSON.

ELECTRIC ALARM.

APPLICATION FILED 00T.12, 1908.

ANDREW. s. mmm co., were Lmocn R. G. BRoNsoN. ELECTRIC ALARM. YAPPLICATION FILED OOTJZ, 1908. n V\'\ Patented Oct. 26, 1909.

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UNITED sTATEs PATENT orricn.

RALPH C. BRONSON, `OE CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ELECTRIC ALARM.

My invention relates to improvements inl electric alarm systems, and hasfor its object the production of devices by means of which an alarm maybe sounded simultaneously in any number of rooms or in any desiredplaces.

A further object is the production of a system involving simpleconstructions and wirings, by means of which the turning of a switch inany room will at once operate the striking mechanism located in anydesired number of rooms.

These and suoli other objects as may here-` inafter appear, are attainedby my device, an embodiment of which is shown in the accompanyingdrawings.

Referring now to the drawings: Figure 1 represents a diagrammatic viewshowing the system installed in four rooms. Fig. 2 represents a sideelevation of my motor and transmitting cylinder in position. Fig. 3represents a top plan view of Fig. 2.

Referring now to the drawing: A, B, C, and D represent the four rooms,for instance in a school house equipped with my system. Located awayfrom the rooms and preferably in the basement, is an ordinary motor 4.This motor is in circuit with a source of electricity, preferably asystem in use for lighting. Adjacent to this motor is a transmittingcylinder 5, by the operation of which the striking apparatus in eachroom is caused to operate. The transmitting cylinder 5 is so arranged asto accommodate any number of local circuits leading to the differentfloors of the building, and each room is equipped with a local circuitVactuated by a relay and adapted tol operate an alarm or strikingapparatus in the room.

In Fig. 1 the transmitting cylinder is shown with two contact strips 6and 7. Located in each room within which there is an alarm or from whichit is desired to'start the alarms in operation, are switches 8a, 8b, 8C,and 8d. The closing of any one of these switches closes the circuitthrough the motor 4. For instance, let us suppose the switch 8a closed.The circuit is completed through a contact 9 and lines 10, 11, 12, 13and 14 to Specification of Letters Patent.

Application iled October 12, 1908.

Patented Oct. 26, 1909.

serial No. 457,323.

the motor 4 and through the switch 8a, the lines 15, 16, 17, 18 and 19to the outside circuit, while the other line 20 of the outside circuitis connected to the other pole of the motor 4. This closing of theswitch 8a therefore sends a current through the motor and actuates thetransmitting cylinder 5. The revolution of this cylinder alternatelymakes and breaks the local circuits to each series of rooms, as will beexplained later, the circuits being as follows: From the pole 21 on thetransmitter line 22 to the local battery 23, lines 24, 25 to the pole 26of relay 27b and from the other pole 28 of the relay through/lines 29,30,31 to the poles 32 of relay 27 a. From the other pole 33 lines 34, 35and 36 to the opposite pole 37 of the contact strip 6. When the relay27b is energized it closes the local circuit within the rooms throughthe relay contact 38, line 39 to the pole 40b of the striker 41b fromthe opposite pole 42, line 43, the local battery 44, line 45, to theopposite pole 46 of the relay 27h.

Referring now to Figs. 2 and 3, it will be noted that the motor 4 isprovided witha worm 47 meshing with thegear 48 on the transmittingcylinder 5, the operation of the motor therefore revolves thetransmitting cylinder at any desired rate of speed. Located on the outerperiphery of the cylinder 5 are a series of contact lugs 49, 50, 51, 52and 53. On the frame 54 is mounted a contact spring 55 and a metallicconnecting bar 56. This contact spring 55 is directly in the path oflugs 51, 52 and 53 and as the cylinder is revolved, the springs rideover the face of the lug, forcing the contacting face 58 of the springinto contact with the contact screws 59 in connection with the contactbar 56. Contact screws 60 and 61 secure to the rod 56 and spring 55, theconnecting wires 62 and 63 leading to the apparatus located in rooms Cand D, the circuits of which are similar to those traced above leadingto rooms A and B as shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2.

Located in each of the rooms A, B, C, and D are drums or some similardevice 64a, 64b, 64c and 64d adapted to be actuated by the strikers 41a,41h, 41e, and 41d.

While I have shown the transmitting cylinder as equipped with two seriesof contact lugs 49, 50, 51, 52 and 53, it is evident that l can place asmany series of these lugs on the cylinder as I desire in order tofacilitate the operation ot the device, and While I have shown tWo roomsin circuit With each series of contacts in the cylinder, it is evidentthat any number ot' rooms may be placed in circuit although prefer toplace the rooms on each tioor on the same circuit. It is also evidentthat the relays and batteries in the local circuits in the room could bedispensed with and the current obtained directI trom, tor instancebatteries 23 tor rooms A and B, but oiving to the long stretches oit'ivire made necessary in the installation ot my device, a great loss ot'current would ensue ivith corresponding` expense ot maintenance.

By the use of the relays and local circuits in each room l find that inordinary praetice, the battery Q3 may consist oi as many cells as thereare rooms or relays to be actuated, While for the local circuits, I rindfrom practice that three ordinary cells serve to ullil all requirements.For alarms 34, (5st", (341C and (5.1.51, l prefer to use drums which arestruck by the arm Gab, (35 and (35 ot the striker al, alb, 4l@ and ald.I use a drum for the reason that as this device is to be used in theevent ot tires, making it necessary tor the occupants of the rooms toleave the building in an orderly manner, the drum is best calculated tokeep the pupils in step and prevent confusion.

Let us suppose that this device is installed in a school ot tour rooms,as illustrated in Fig. l. The teacher in room A becomes apprised oit thefire in the building, making it necessary to get the children out asquickly as possible and yet prevent a panic. She turns the sivitch 8athus closing the circuit and sending the outside current through themotor Lt. rl`he motor immediately starts into operation and revolves thetransmitting cylinder. It will be noted that the contacting lugs on thecylinder are spaced apart and that some ot the spaces are Wider thanothers and the width or length ot t'ace otl the lugs themselves varies,for instance, the

Width of the lug 51 is practically three times the Width ot the lug 50,thus holding the spring up a correspondingly longer time. rlhe intervalsbetween the lugs and the width of the 'faces ot' the lugs are carefullyproportioned so that the impulses sent over the local circuits are thesame length as those produced by the beating ot an ordinary march tuneon the drum. This revolution or" the transniitting cylinder thereforecloses the local circuit intermittently and causes the striker to beatthe individual drums in the rooms. The children start at once from theirseats and as they move toward the doors, unconsciously tall into stepwith the drum. Thus in a great measure the element of danger from apanic is eliminated. rlhis alarm continues until some syvitch is thrownopen opening the circuit. It ivill be noted that these switches are inmultiple, so that the closing et any one switch sends the currentthrough the motor and starts the device in operation.

Aleretoitore in the event of fires in schools tor instance, it has beennecessary tor the teacher discovering the tire to go at once to thejanitor' generally in the basement. to have the outside doors opened,and then to at once come back to the hall and commence playing a pianoplaced in the hall to be used in cases ot this kind. The other teachersassigned to the same duty on the other floors, at once go to theirpianos and commence playing tor the childern to march out. lt isevident, however, that a very great loss ot time has necessarily ensuedin getting through with these operations and at the same time there isno probability that any two teachers Will play in time. Consequently asthe pupils from the di'tlerent tloors come together on the stairs or inthe corridors, there Will necessarily be more or less contusion. By theuse ot my device and system, however, a simple closing ot the switch inone room immediately starts into operation the drum in every room, allbeating in exact time with each other. The janitor is ot course, thusimmediately apprised.

ot the necessity for seeing that all exits are open and the children canat once march out in step.

It is evident that this invention is valuable not only for use inschools but also for apartment houses, large halls, theaters, etc.

I claim:

In an ala-rm system comprising a normally open main circuit, a pluralityot open local circuits, a plurality ot relays in series in said localcircuits and a ringer circuit ttor each relay adapted to be closedthereby, including a battery and alarm mechanism including a drum, amotor adapted to be put in operation on the closing of said maincircuit, a cylinder actuated by said motor provided With contact lugsspaced apart at irregular intervals on the outer periphery ot' saidcylinder to alternately open and close said local circuit and operatesaid alarms.

Signed by me at Chicago lllinois this Sth day of October 1908.

RALPH C. BRONSON.

ll/vitnesses:

.CLARENCE E. TAYLOR, E. CLEGG.

